Community Notes: Vollrath event nears

The five-part series “Made in Sheboygan County: From Coffee Filters” regarding Sheboygan County’s manufacturing history will continue at 6:30 p.m. March 16 at the Sheboygan County Historical Museum, 3110 Erie Ave., Sheboygan, with a focus on the Vollrath Company.

Jacob J. Vollrath founded Sheboygan Cast Steel Co. in 1874 in Sheboygan to produce railroad frogs, small cast parts for the furniture industry, cooking ranges and agricultural implements. When son Andrew learned the art of creating enameled cast iron, the company began to manufacture a small amount of enameled cast iron utensils that Jacob sold himself. Jacob’s son, Carl A.W., originated and patented the iconic speckled enamel in 1889.

VP of human resources Jeff Madson will discuss the company’s history, its product line and its involvement with the community.

A joint venture of the Sheboygan County Historical Society and Sheboygan County Historical Research Center, the program is free of charge and open to the public.

Fair housing and rental management seminar planned

Landlords are invited to a free fair housing and rental management seminar from 7-9 p.m. on March 17 at Lakeshore Lanes, 2519 S. Business Dr., Sheboygan.

Students from Riverview Middle School, Plymouth High School and other area schools will participate in a Wisconsin School Music Association-sanctioned district solo and ensemble music festival from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. March 12 at Plymouth High School, 125 Highland Ave., Plymouth.

Conservation stewardship program offering payments to help improve working lands

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting new applications and renewal applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program.

NRCS accepts applications for CSP throughout the year, but producers should submit applications by March 31 to USDA Service Centers to ensure they are considered for enrollment in 2016.

Participants with existing CSP contracts that will expire Dec.31 have the option to renew their contracts for an additional five years if they agree to adopt additional activities to achieve higher levels of conservation on their lands. Applications to renew are also due by March 31. CSP encourages agricultural producers to maintain existing conservation activities and adopt additional ones on their operations. The program is open to all farmers, regardless of size or type of operation.

Average payments for the program in Wisconsin are $20 per acre for cropland, $14 per acre for pastureland and $4 per acre for forestland. Payments are made annually for each of the five years of the contract. CSP is open to small and large operations, with farms already enrolled ranging from just a few acres to over 4,000 acres of cropland.

Farmers will need to document their current and proposed conservation practices which will be used to rank applications and determine payments. NRCS field staff will also conduct on-site field verifications of applicants’ information. Visit www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov or call 920-467-9917, extension 101.

Local charity project wins gold, Judge’s Choice

Sheboygan native Angela Murphy Schumacher and her business Smoky Lake Maple Products have been recognized by the American Advertising Federation for an international fundraising project they spearheaded to raise money for Compassionate Care ALS.

The project, a 2016 calendar featuring an original photography series, was awarded a gold in Public Service, as well as the Judge’s Choice Award, ranking the fundraiser as one of the top Wisconsin-based design projects of 2015.

The calendar is being sold on CalendarGirlsForALS.com and at Urban Artique and JoMaJi Salon and Spa. In Fall of 2015, the art was showcased at The Flying Pig Gallery in Algoma. To date, the calendar has grossed more than $10,000. Schumacher has been mailing the calendars throughout the US and Canada.

Many area professionals contributed their time and resources to the production of this calendar, including Che Correa Photography and an anonymous bindery in the Fox River Valley. Several sponsors funded production costs, including Roth Sugarbush of Cadott, Wisconsin, Tucker Mountain Maple of New Hampshire and Wendel’s Maple and More of New York.

A benefit for Lorelai Burke, who is currently fighting the rare medical condition of Osteogenesis Imperfecta, will be held April 3 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Harbor Lights, 434 Pennsylvania Ave., Sheboygan.

Raffles, food and entertainment will be featured along with booths for baked goods and temporary tattoos.